Teaching civil engineering or any engineering course requires instructors to have comprehensive subject matter knowledge as a baseline. However, great instructors go beyond this by applying pedagogical approaches and teaching theories to strengthen their instructional methods. While many pedagogical models exist, we would like to share our thoughts on using the experiential learning model and Bloom’s Taxonomy to develop effective learning modules for teaching standards, specifications, and codes in civil engineering.
As engineering educators, we believe in the power of the Experiential Learning Model (ELM), which emphasizes active engagement and personal experience in the learning process to help civil engineering students learn more effectively. The ELM enables students to learn through direct experience and reflection, and it has been successfully implemented in higher education and engineering courses to promote critical thinking skills and active learning.
To ensure our educational goals and objectives are organized into a hierarchy of cognitive skills, we also utilize Bloom's Taxonomy. This framework encompasses six cognitive skills: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis. Our project focuses on developing students' competencies in documenting standards, standardization, and standards development, leveraging the principles of ELM to ensure active engagement and personal experience throughout the learning process.
Learning Objectives: Students are able to effectively describe the key components of specifications and standards, the organizations responsible for developing and managing standards, the importance and relevance of standards to engineers’ careers. Students will develop the ability to read and comprehend specifications, understand basic terminology, and apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Learning Activities:
(1)Students will engage in a hands-on activity that involves blueprint reading of a building on campus. They will be tasked with identifying the dimensions of the building and then visiting the site to verify their findings. Using computer-aided design (CAD) software, students will redraw the building and accurately indicate the dimensions based on the specification. To further enhance their learning experience, students will utilize 3D printers to produce a scaled model of the building.
(2)To gain insights into how standards are utilized in industry, a guest speaker from the engineering field will be invited to present to the class. Through interaction with the engineer and a class discussion of a case study involving project failure due to neglect or mistakes in standards, students will gain a deeper understanding of the real-world applications of standards.
(3)Students will interview a professor specializing in their discipline of engineering to gain a more nuanced perspective on the importance of standards. They will then use this knowledge to create a video that incorporates their interview, while also proactively utilizing the NIST website or other relevant online resources to delve deeper into the topic of standards in civil engineering.
Relevance to ELM: concrete experience, reflective observation
Relevance to Bloom's Taxonomy: Remember, Understand, Apply
Learning Objectives: Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of AISC specifications and apply them to the design of a steel beam project. Students will be able to analyze the results of their design and identify areas for improvement, based on their knowledge of AISC standards. Through their coursework, students will develop the skills necessary to design safe and reliable steel structures that meet or exceed AISC standards.
Learning Activities: A mini-lecture will be developed that specifically introduces the standards from the AISC. As a leading professional organization that represents the structural steel industry, the AISC produces standards and specifications that play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of steel structures. After learning about the importance and wide application of AISC standards, students will be tasked with completing a steel beam design project. They will be required to select the most effective wide flange beam based on their analysis, using techniques that follow the AISC standard. In addition, students will be expected to write a report that thoroughly justifies their selection, demonstrating their ability to analyze and apply the AISC standard to practical problems. By completing this project, students will not only gain practical experience in designing steel structures but also develop important critical thinking and communication skills. They will learn to apply their knowledge of the AISC standard to real-world scenarios, becoming better equipped to succeed in the field of structural engineering.
Relevance to ELM: concrete experience, reflective observation, Active Experimentation
Relevance to Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate
Learning Objectives: Students will become proficient in following ASTM and AASHTO standards for conducting civil engineering materials experiments. Students will learn the specific standards applicable to concrete, asphalt, steel, and wood materials, gaining practical experience in applying these standards in laboratory settings. Students will be able to write professional reports that cite relevant standards accurately and effectively, demonstrating their understanding of how to communicate experimental results in accordance with industry standards.
Learning Activities: The module covers four specific learning modules to improve the technical writing skills of civil engineers.
Relevance to ELM: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, active experimentation
Relevance to Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create
Learning Objectives: Students will be able to demonstrate their proficiency in applying standards to real-world problems, as well as their ability to work effectively as part of a team and communicate their findings clearly and concisely.
Learning Activities: Students will be grouped into several teams to undertake a practical project that requires them to apply the skills and knowledge acquired through the learning modules and industry network. Through this project, students will gain hands-on experience in applying standards to real-world civil engineering problems, working collaboratively with their peers and utilizing industry tools and techniques. This will enable them to develop practical skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and project management, all of which are highly valued by employers in the civil engineering field. Students will be required to write a technical report outlining their approach, methodology, findings, and recommendations. This report will be evaluated based on the clarity, accuracy, and thoroughness of the students' analysis and the extent to which they have successfully incorporated relevant standards and specifications into their project. In addition to the technical report, students will also be required to give a public presentation demonstrating their ability to effectively communicate their findings and correctly incorporate standards into their oral presentation.
Relevance to ELM: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, active experimentation
Relevance to Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create
Learning Objectives: Students will be able to define the importance of specification development in civil engineering and participate in this process through engagement with an AASHTO or ASTM community. This will provide them with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the industry and develop skills needed for success.
Learning Activities: Students will attend an AASHTO or ASTM committee meeting to gain firsthand insights into how professionals develop and revise standards specification remotely. Through this experience, students will learn about the challenges and best practices associated with remote collaboration and gain valuable insights into how industry professionals work together to develop and revise standards. After attending the meeting, students will write a memo that summarizes their observations and highlights the key takeaways from the experience. This will help them reflect on what they have learned and deepen their understanding of the importance of standards development in the civil engineering industry. In addition to attending the committee meeting, students will also participate in a course that focuses on the development of a material production manual. Working with the instructor, students will develop a comprehensive manual that outlines the procedures and best practices for producing high-quality materials in accordance with industry standards.
Relevance to ELM: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, active experimentation
Relevance to Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create
Learning Objectives: 1. Students will develop an understanding of the research life cycle, including ethical considerations and the documentation of research results. 2. Students will refine their writing skills, focusing on effective data presentation, illustration, citation, and referencing, through the publication of at least one journal article. This may include state-of-the-art reviews, conference manuscripts, journal articles, case studies, or technical notes. 3. Students will learn to critically evaluate and respond to peer review comments in a constructive and professional manner. 4. Students will gain practical experience in proposal writing, honing their ability to effectively communicate research ideas and methodologies to potential funders or collaborators. 5. Students will learn to effectively design their posters and present them at a mini-symposium to the general public.
Learning Activities: One of the key quantitative learning outcomes of this course is for each student to have a state-of-the-art review manuscript ready for submission to a journal by the end of the summer semester. This ambitious goal fosters student ownership and ensures that the outcome is valuable for their academic careers. Throughout the summer, four in-person meetings are scheduled.
Relevance to ELM: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, active experimentation
Relevance to Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create
Reference:
[1] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). (2008). “Civil engineering body of knowledge for the 21st century preparing the civil engineer for the future”. 3rd edition. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.1061/9780784415221
[2] Kelly, W. E. (2008). Standards in Civil Engineering Design Education. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 134 (1): 59-66.
[3] Lee, J. H., B. G. McCullouch, and L. Chang. (2008). Macrolevel and Microlevel Frameworks of Experiential Learning Theory in Construction Engineering Education. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 134 (2): 158-164.
[4] Fortunela, B. S., H. Subekti, and W. B. Sabtiawan. (2022). Application of Experiential Learning Model to Increase Students Motivation and Learning Outcomes. J. Pijar MIPA, (17)4: 430-436.
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[6] Anderson, Lorin W, David R Krathwohl, and Benjamin Samuel Bloom. (2001). A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: A revision of Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives: Allyn & Bacon.
[7] Sharunova, A., Y. Wang, M. Kowalski, and A. J. Qureshi. (2022). Applying Bloom’s taxonomy in transdisciplinary engineering design education. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, (2022) 32:987-999.
[8] Wu, S., S. Zha, and S. Mattson. (2020). Integrating Team-based Learning Modules to Improve Civil Engineering Students’ Technical Writing Skills. Journal of Civil Engineering Education, 146 (3). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.2643-9115.0000016